Switch-mounting and the like.



H. R. SARGENT.

SWITCH MOUNTING AND THE LIKE.

7 APPLICATION FILED MAY6,1913- 1,173,040. Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

PIE 5 Inventor:

Howard RSarg ht,-

y His fittorney.,

Fig. l.

Witnesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD R. SARGENT, 0F SCI-IENECTADY, NEW YORKfASSIGrNOR TO GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SWITCH-MOUNTING AND THE LIKE.

Application filed May 6, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOWARD R. SARGENT, acitizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county ofSchenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Switch- Mountings and the like, of which the followtheface of the switch flush with the surface of the wall, so that the faceplate or cover for the switch fits closely over said wall surface, it isnecessary to adjust the switch support longitudinally with respect tothe stationary box or casing in which it is mounted, the amount ofadjustment depending upon the thickness of the plaster or otherfinishing material. Hitherto, this adjustment has been commonlyaccomplished by the use of a number of washers located between the plateor bracket of the switch support and the stationary box, through whichwashers pass the screw or screws which secure the switch support to thebase support. Such an expedient not only incurs the ex pense of a numberof washers but frequently requires taking the switch out and putting itin several times before a proper adjustment is secured.

My invention provides novel means for quickly and securely adjusting theswitch support longitudinally with reference to the stationary box orbase support upon which it is mounted, without any of the disadvantagesof the-washer method, and at the same time provides for the adjustmentof said switch support transversely with respect to said base support.

For a fuller understanding of my invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of thefaceplate or cover for the switch; Fig. 2 is a. longitudinal verticalse'ctionthrough the outlet box, Which is illustrated in position in thewall, the switch support being shown in elevation; Fig. 3 is a detailside elevation showing the means for adjusting theswitch Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Serial No. 765,756.

support relatively to the box; Fig. 4. is a front elevation of Fig. 3;Fig. 5 is a perspective View of thelock nut, and Fig. 6 shows amodification of the lock nut.

In the drawings, 1 is the box or casing in which a swltch or receptacleis mounted, and which serves as a base support therefor. The casing isprovided with brackets 2 by which the box is secured to the wall, whichI have here represented by laths 3, by means of screws 4. The box isalso provided with ears or brackets 5 having tapped openings 5 for apurpose hereinafter more fully explained. The switch is carried by aswitch support 6, which may be made of any suitable insulating material,such as porcelain. I have not illustrated the switch mechanism with theexception of the actuating plungers 7, as the switch itself constitutesno part of my present invention. A plate or bar 8 is secured to the faceof the switch support and extends beyond the body to form a supporttherefor in the usual manner. Each end of this plate is provided with atransversly elongated opening 9, through which passes a screw 10, whichsecures the switch support to the base support, and in which the head ofthe screw is seated. A look nut or member 11, provided with atapped-opening 12 and a lug 13 extending at right an gles to the member,is seated against the under side of the plate 8 beneath the opening '9,the lug passing through an opening 14: in

support by screws 16, with the cover fitting closely to the plaster 17or face of the wall.

In order to install the switch in the outlet box, the screws 10 arefirst inserted through the "openings 9 at the ends of the plate 8, andthe members 11 are run onto the screws until they engage the plate 8 andtheir lugs 13 engage in the openings 14 of said plate 8. This is mostconveniently done before the switch support is placed within the outletbox. The switch support is then placed within the outletbox with thepoints of the screws at the entrance of the tapped openings 5 in theears 5. The screws are now backed or turned out through the members 11until the outer face of the switch support is moved inwardly until it isflush with the surface of the plaster or wall, at the same time pressinginward on the switch in order to keep the plate 8 in engagement with themembers 11. The switch support is then adjusted so as to bring the samein a vertical position by moving either or both ends of the plate 8transversely across the screws 10, which are kept stationary with theirends at the entrances of the tapped openings 5. The screws are thenturned in, and, as they travel through the members 11 and the ears 5 atthe same rate, the switch support remains in the same position relativeto the outlet box in which it was adjusted, and, when the screws arebrought home, it is clamped or screwed in this position.

I have shown in Fig. 6 a modification in which the end of the lug 13,which projects through the plate 8, is riveted over to avoid chance ofthe member 11 being lost.

While in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, I haveshown what I consider the best embodiment of my invention, it will beunderstood that the same is capable of numerous modifications withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof. For example, while I have illustratedthe switch support secured to an outlet box, it will be understood thatunder some circumstances it might be desirable to dispense entirely withthis box and the supporting body would then be secured directly to thewall. Furthermore, while Ihave illustrated my invention as embodying anut-lock or member 11, it will be understood that this member might bedispensed with and the screw 10 would in that case be tapped di rectlythrough the plate S,-which is so secured to the switch support as to beeffectually prevented from turning with the screw, though this does notafford the same convenient means for adjusting the supporting bodyrelatively to the base support as the preferred construction abovedescribed. It will be further understood that while I have illustratedmy invention in connection with a switch support, it could equally wellbe used with what is known in the art as a flush pocket receptacle. WhenI refer in the claims, therefore, to a switch support, it will beunderstood that the claims cover any kind of a device that is adapted tobe mounted in an outlet box or in a wall.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In a switch mounting, the combination of a base support having atapped opening, a switch support including a part with a tapped openingso secured as to be prevented from turning, and a screw having itsthreads engaged in said tapped openings in the switch support and thebase support.

In a switch mounting, the combination of a base support having a tappedopening, a switch support comprising a plate with an opening, a memberhaving a tapped opening seated against said plate and engaged therewithso that it cannot turn with reference thereto, and a screw adapted toengage in said tapped openings in said base support and said member andto extend loosely through said opening in said plate.

3. In a switch mounting, the'combination of a base support having atapped opening, a switch support comprising a plate with one or moreelongated openings, a member having a tapped opening seated against saidplate, there being means for preventing rotation of said member withreference to said switch support, and a screw adapted to engage in theopenings of said base support and said member and to pass through theopening of said plate.

l. In a switch mounting, the combination of a base support having atapped opening, a switch support comprising a plate having an elongatedtransversely extending'opening, a member having a tapped opening securedto said plate so that it may be adjusted alongthe elongated openingtherein, and a screw adapted to engage in said tapped openings in saidbase support and said member and to pass through the elongated openingof the plate.

5. In a switch mounting, the combination of a base support having atapped opening, a switch support comprising a plate having an elongatedtransversely ex tending opening, a member having a tapped openingregistering with said plate opening and also having a lug engaged in anopening in the plate and forming a pivot forsaid member, and a screwadapted to engage in said tapped openings in said base support and saidmember and to pass through said plate opening so that said switchsupport may be adjusted with respect to said base support bothlengthwise and transversely of said screw.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of May,1913.

HOWARD R. SARGENT.

Witnesses BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD.

